![](http://172.25.11.96/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DMacrophage_Microtubules_NL_01-copy-3-2.jpg)
Leica SP8 WL inverted confocal
![](https://giif.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screenshot-SP8InvSpecs.png)
![](http://172.25.11.96/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Leica-SP8-WL-photo.png)
Technology Focus
Confocal microscopes use a pinhole to reject out of focus light resulting in optical sectioning and an improved signal to noise ratio when compared to widefield fluorescence imaging. (See figure below – only in-focus light can pass through the pinhole to reach the detector).
![](http://172.25.11.96/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Pinhole-Effect-Confocal-Microscope-1024x944-copy.png)
Confocal microscopes are ideal for imaging multi-labelled fluorescent samples up to around 100 microns in depth.
Figure credit – https://www.edinst.com/
![](http://172.25.11.96/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Leica-SP8-WL-Tech_focus-1024x455.png)
The White Light (WL) Laser ranges from 470nm to 670nm and 8 wavelengths can be simultaneously selected. This, together with the spectral detection, allows for easy optimization of multicolour imaging set-ups. The WL laser is pulsed giving the option of gating to remove reflections and other non fluorescent events from the images when used with the pulsed HyD detectors.